Seismic Assessment Procedure for Exterior Reinforced Concrete Beam–Column Joints With Slab and Transverse Beams

ABSTRACT This article presents a capacity‐based assessment procedure for beam–column (b–c) joints of reinforced concrete frames with floor slabs and transverse beams. The procedure extends a previously proposed assessment methodology for determining the hierarchy of strengths and the sequence of events in symmetrically reinforced planar b–c joints. It accounts for the enhanced flexural resistance of the beam, the decrease in the equivalent cracking strength of the joint due to the smaller lever arm of the beam moment under negative bending, the increased confinement and effective area of the joint, and the torsional resistance provided by the transverse beam. In addition, the flexural effect of gravity loads acting on the beam is indirectly incorporated by modifying the yielding strength of the beam and column members and the cracking strength of the joint, and dynamic effects on the latter are considered by decreasing the distance between the column upper and lower points of contraflexure. The proposed assessment methodology is verified using experimental results from quasi‐static tests of b–c joint subassemblies and shake‐table tests of a frame building, thereby covering a range of geometric and loading conditions. The procedure proved to be an effective and reliable tool for capacity assessments of b–c joints with slabs and transverse beams.